CounselingInsite.com

Mental Illness in America

How Widespread Are Personality Disorders?

Prevalence of Personality Disorders in America

In 2008, NBC News reported that almost one in five young American adults has a personality disorder that interferes with everyday life, and even more abuse alcohol or drugs. This they got from a study conducted at Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute.The disorders include problems such as obsessive or compulsive tendencies and anti-social behavior that can sometimes lead to violence. The study also found that fewer than 25 percent of college-aged Americans with mental problems get treatment. Counting substance abuse, the study found that nearly half of young people surveyed have some sort of psychiatric condition, including students and non-students. Personality disorders were the second most common problem behind drug or alcohol abuse as a single category. The disorders include obsessive, anti-social and paranoid behaviors that are not mere quirks but actually interfere with ordinary functioning.Recommended: How to Spot a Borderline Personality

Learn the difference Between a Sociopath and a Psychopath (infographic)